What Is “Post-Christian”?

You may have heard the term “post-Christian.” What does it mean, and what are the implications—or consequences—of this modern phenomenon?

The prefix “post” means “following in time or sequence.” So, the term “post-Christian” refers to that which follows Christianity. Much of “Christianity” in the modern world has forgotten or let slip away fundamental doctrines, beliefs, and practices based on biblical principles. In their place, secular ideas have influenced many churches’ beliefs, moral principles, forms of worship, and preaching of the gospel message itself. So much has changed that it little resembles the Christianity of the past.

Belief in biblical fundamentals has been replaced with a syncretism of beliefs and philosophies from social and multicultural influences disseminated by public education, news media, television, movies, literature, social media, and celebrity influencers. Former United States President Barack Obama startled viewers in a televised address on June 28, 2006, when he said, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation—at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”

Polls and studies have noted the decline in church membership in America and other Western nations. More and more people have become “religiously unaffiliated,” since World War II. Massive immigration has also altered the religious landscape of many Western nations.

Where are these trends leading? What will be the result? One need only watch the news to see what is happening. Crime and violence of every description are increasing, drugs are destroying many lives, mental health issues proliferate, pornography is a rampant social plague, sexual and gender confusion abound, and poverty and homelessness are a scourge in many cities. Education is failing our children, and sound culture and family life are decaying before our eyes.

Strong, stable families are the building blocks of a sound society and culture. As the family unit decays and definitions of gender and marriage blur beyond anything recognizable, as biological males delude themselves that they are women and biological females delude themselves that they are men, family and societal structures disintegrate.

Sometimes, when a reprehensible incident of misconduct occurs, someone says, “There ought to be a law.” But dozens of applicable laws already exist. The laws are simply not enforced. The problem is not a lack of laws, but lawlessness—utter disregard of the laws—by the general populace, including those who made the laws.

God’s simple commandments cover in principle all aspects of acceptable human behavior. Mankind replaces them with voluminous federal, state, and local regulations and ordinances in an attempt to address every possible infraction—but that is not working. Governments, with all of their regulations and bureaucracy, pile on additional revenues to fund more regulations and personnel to combat the problems, which continue to exist with little or no improvement.

Mankind, hostile towards its Creator, disregards the Almighty God, His word, and His commandments. Human leaders vainly try to fulfill the role of the all-knowing, loving Creator God. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind continues to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, falling for the ancient lie: “In the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 2:9, 3:1–5).

Satan the “serpent of old,” continues to deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9) into thinking, I can decide good and evil for myself! I don’t need a divine figure telling me what I can and cannot do!

In all truth, the “post-Christian” era began shortly after Jesus Christ established His Church—and that Church still exists, practicing real Christianity today. You may be interested in reading these study guides related to this subject: Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity, What Is a True Christian?, and Restoring Original Christianity.